Notes: I'm not an expert in renaissance household, so if you still don't get it by the end of this chapter, I will reach through my screen, grab you by the collar and hit you in the face with a wet, stinky, slimy fish over the internet.

Seriously.

So just pretend they have running water and dish soap, and a stove and all that jazz, okay?

Disclaimer: My cat pwns me, how am I supposed to own anything without her consent?


Chapter 2 –Potatoes and dancing...

"Don't just stand outside, Ezio." A man said from the now open door. Aha. A name. "I have something to show you, I think you will—who is that?" he looked down at me. His light brown eyes studied mine with curiosity.

"Ah, yes, you see—" Ezio started to explain.

"Where are your manners, Ezio?" the man stepped to me and offered me his hand. "Would you like to come inside, signorina?" he smiled at me.

'come…inside…' I willed my head out of the gutter and forced my hand to move and placed it in his warm palm. He gently pulled me up and gestured to his door. I let him lead me inside, his hand on my lower back to guide me up the steps.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked. I dumbly shook my head. "Some water, perhaps?" I mentally slapped myself and smiled at him.

"No, thank you, I'm fine."

"Please, sit." He pulled a chair by a table and touched my arm. Almost tripping, I parked my own clumsy rear on it. What was wrong with me? I racked my brain for an answer while the two men talked. I observed the one in white. Ezio was his name. He had pulled his hood down and was looking over the other's shoulder at a piece of parchment. Could that really be Leonardo da Vinci? Great. I was asking myself if someone was a famous artist, when I should be worrying about being sucked into my XBOX. Yeah, I had accepted that in a hurry, but—hey, are they talking to me?

"Signorina, Are you quite all right?" the light brown eyes were looking at me again. I blushed and stuttered.

"I'm fine, I—I was just thinking." I tried a smile, but was sure that it was obvious I was nervous. Way to go, Alex.

"Ezio has told me of how you met. You are welcome to stay until you find your way." Couldn't he stop smiling? I thanked him (or tried to, without looking pathetic) and looked at Ezio when I heard a snort. He was barely containing a grin. Dammit. So what if the artist was cute, I—no. I did not just think that. Ezio's knowing grin widened.

"Leonardo, would you mind if I stayed for dinner?" he asked oh-so-innocently.

"Of course, amico mio." Leonardo went to the kitchen and soon we heard clanking. I looked back at Ezio and narrowed my eyes at him.

"Shut up." I crossed my arms and looked away.

"I didn't say anything." He laughed.

"But you were thinking it."

"Oh, so now you can read minds?" could that grin get any bigger?

"It's practically written on your forehead." I rolled my eyes and spotted a mirror. I hastily plucked a few pink petals from my hair and combed it with my fingers.

"Tell me, is your behavior normal where you come from?"

"This is as normal as I can get, buddy…" I snapped. He chuckled and looked up when Leonardo came in. He quickly set the table and went back to the kitchen. When he passed me, he smiled warmly again.

"You're blushing." Ezio leaned towards me and whispered.

"I know that." I snapped and put my hand to my cheek.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't prepare something better on such short notice." Leonardo came back in the living room, carrying a tray. Whatever was in there, it smelled delicious. After he served us, I tried some. It turned out to be chicken, rice and potatoes with white sauce.

Ha. Potato.

Anyway. It was as delicious as it smelled, if not more. I closed my eyes and outright moaned. After I swallowed, I noticed the room was unusually quiet. I opened my eyes to see Ezio grinning knowingly again. 'What?' I looked at Leonardo. His fork was halfway to his mouth, which he had apparently forgotten to close, and was staring at me. I blushed, lowered my head and continued eating.

The rest of dinner went by smoothly. Ezio was talking about some masquerade party he needed to go 'on business'. Riiight. The conversation was light and pleasant, Leonardo stealing glances at me (and vice-versa) and Ezio trying to muffle his grin in food. Speaking of witch, I had three helpings before I noticed both men were already finished.

"Sorry. Was a little hungry." I smiled sheepishly.

"It's always good to have a healthy appetite." Leonardo smiled at me. He stood up and started taking the dishes to the kitchen.

"So…" Ezio started once Leonardo was out of sight.

"Shut up." I snapped and stood up, deciding to help my host. I ignored his chuckle as I stepped in the kitchen and almost crashed into Leonardo.

"Oh, jeez, sorry, I—" I stepped to my right to let him pass, but he stepped to his left, with the same intention.

"It's fine, I—" we sidestepped together to the other side.

"Well, I'll just—" again to the right.

"Allow me to—" again.

He stopped and held my arms. He gently steered me to the left while he went right. After completing half a circle, he hastily let go.

"There." He smiled.

"Thanks." I bet I was as red as his tunic.

"Not at all…" we stood awkwardly there for a moment. "Thank you for helping me." He motioned to the dishes in my hands.

"Oh." I looked down at them. I turned and set them on the sink.

"I'll be going now." Ezio poked his head inside the kitchen.

"I'll take you outside." Leonardo said. Ezio waved and grinned. I narrowed my eyes at him. He chuckled and turned away.

I decided to start doing the dishes. Taking a dry cloth from the sink, I draped it over my shoulder and squirted some dish soap on the sponge and started working.


Notes:

Just so you know, my friend Alex, who ever so nicely asked me to write this (she threatened me) wouldn't actually have waited so much. Sure, she'd be a blushing, clumsy elephant in a crystal store, but the moment Ezio left, she'd glomp Leonardo and shag him until no tomorrow. Okay, maybe she wouldn't even wait 'till Ezio was out of the room, and believe me, it is the most disturbing thing I've ever seen when she tackled my cousin and started playing tonsil hockey with him my living room couch.

With that marvelous image burned eternally in your brains, please review.